Holiday Springs & Sprockets

October 21. 2012 - January 6, 2013

The Muscatine Art Center is pleased to announce the return of artist Steve Gerberich with a new exhibit entitled "Holiday Springs & Sprockets". Visitors may remember Gerberich's 2010 exhibit at the Muscatine Art Center, "Springs Sprockets & Pulleys" that broke attendance records with his masterful transformation of ordinary objects into inventive and witty mechanical sculpture.

Featuring five large-scale holiday-themed sculptures and installations, Holiday Springs & Sprockets explores scientific principles using everything from teapots to tin cans to fashion a world of blinking lights, moving parts and quirky scenarios. "This industrial strength exhibit will unite the youngest at heart with fond memories of old Americana - kitchen appliances associated with holiday traditions," says Gerberich. With a touch of a button, visitors bring to life the whirling motions of assembly line automation. The Cookie Workshop shuttles cookies in and out of the oven while keeping two automatons busy washing loads of dirty dishes. An early 20th century vertical drill press is put to good use creating candy canes in the Candy Cane Assembly Plant, while Santa and his Exercycle Reindeer are propelled across the gallery by exercise bikes.

This holiday-themed installation made its debut at New York's Bloomingdale's and has been featured on The Today Show and NBC Nightly News.

Holiday Springs & Sprockets is on view October 21, 2012 through January 6, 2013. The Friends of the Muscatine Art Center will host a free public reception on Sunday, October 21 from 1 to 5pm where visitors will meet artist Steve Gerberich and enjoy the exhibit with family and friends.